- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2026
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 3 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help rectify recent pressures at University Hospital Crosshouse as a result of reported unsustainable demand on the hospital’s A&E department.
Answer
Answer expected on 3 September 2026
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase the rate of working age employment across Scottish cities, replicating the success of Edinburgh, which reportedly has a 83.2% rate of working age employment, the highest of any UK city.
Answer
The Scottish Government is investing £1.9 billion through the Regional Growth Deal programme over the next 10 years to stimulate economic growth at a local and regional level. These strategic partnerships are designed to align long term funding behind shared visions for regional economies, leverage additional investment, create new jobs and accelerate inclusive economic growth.
The Scottish Government is also investing up to £90 million in 2026-27, delivering employability support to people of all ages facing barriers to the labour market. Through the No One Left Behind approach, person-centred employability services are available in every local authority area, helping people progress towards and into sustainable, fair work.
Support is also available to help people find and sustain employment throughout their working lives. Careers support is available across Scotland through Skills Development Scotland, with advisers based in schools and communities. Colleges and universities also provide career support services to help young people and adults find and sustain employment.
Alongside this, our Fair Work approach seeks to help provide the conditions to enable people from all backgrounds to remain in and progress in work.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 5 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support local authorities in improving Scottish timber transportation infrastructure.
Answer
Scottish Forestry operates a Strategic Timber Transport Scheme to support timber transport infrastructure improvements. Most recently, on 10 July, it announced that £900,000 has been allocated to 9 local authority projects this year. These projects are co-funded by the local authorities which include Highland Council, Scottish Borders Council, Argyll and Bute Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Ayrshire Roads Alliance. Another £945,000 this year is supporting the shipping of timber from Argyll to Ayrshire thereby removing approximately 75,000 tonnes from roads in those areas.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 4 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to reduce weapon possession across the country, in light of its report on Recorded Crime in Scotland 2025-26, which indicated that weapons possession made up 18% of total crimes in Scotland.
Answer
The assertion that the report on Recorded Crime in Scotland 2025-26, indicates that weapons possession made up 18% of total crimes in Scotland is incorrect. Weapons possession accounted for 18% of crimes against society in 2025-2026 which is one of the six crime groups used in the bulletin, and crimes against society accounted for 21% of all recorded crime. Measured against total recorded crime, the correct figure is close to 4%.
Our approach has three strands, education on the danger and unacceptability of carrying a weapon, effective consequences when offences are committed, and sustained school and community engagement.
The Scottish Government has invested over £6 million to support implementation of the Violence Prevention Framework since its publication in May 2023. It has also provided over £2 million over 2026/27 to continue delivery of the violence prevention work. This funding supports a range of targeted prevention and early intervention activity in schools, hospitals and across communities, working with partners to tackle violence and its harms including the use of any form of weapon including knives.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Accounts Commission report of 1 July 2026, The 2023/24 audit of Clackmannanshire Council, Continued late reporting of audited accounts, and the accompanying Audit Scotland news release, Collective leadership needed to tackle significant audit delays at Clackmannanshire Council, which stated that “for the last five years, unaudited accounts have not been presented to the council on time, and the delays have been worsening. This means the council is making significant choices, including setting budgets and agreeing council tax levels, without the most up to date financial information. This is critical, especially at a time when all councils must make significant savings, with the cost of delivering services rising faster than available funding”, what its response is to the report; how it will ensure that (a) Clackmannanshire and (b) other local authorities now meet their audit deadlines; what consultation it plans with (i) COSLA and (ii) other relevant stakeholders regarding implementing the report’s findings, and whether it is aware of other local authorities in a similar position and if so, (A) which authorities and (B) what action it is taking.
Answer
The Accounts Commission is appointed by Parliament and has statutory responsibility to secure the audit of local authorities, evaluate Best Value and oversee public financial transparency. In particular the Accounts Commission must consider reports issued by the Controller of Audit, investigate matters raised, conduct public hearings where necessary and issue formal recommendations to local councils and Scottish Ministers.
The Accounts Commission considered a special report by the Controller of Audit in relation to the continued late reporting of Clackmannanshire Council’s annual accounts at its meeting on 18 June. The Commission published its findings on 30 June and set clear expectations for the improvements it expects to see. The leader of the council has provided assurances that compliance with statutory timescales for financial reporting will be prioritised by the full council.
The Accounts Commission continues to work closely with the council to ensure the necessary improvements are made and Scottish Government officials will continue to monitor the council’s progress through ongoing engagement with the Council and with the Accounts Commission.
The vast majority of councils continue to meet their statutory obligations and almost all have now considerably improved or returned to pre-pandemic timescales for the production of their statutory annual accounts. Only three other local authorities have not yet published their 2024-25 annual accounts: Stirling Council, West Dunbartonshire Council and East Dunbartonshire Council. We expect that the Accounts Commission will be monitoring the situation with each of these authorities and alert Ministers to any concerns in line with the statutory framework.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Accounts Commission report, Best Value: Inverclyde Council, which was published on 9 July 2026, what support it has provided to ensure that local authorities can develop ambitious long-term financial plans.
Answer
The Scottish Government works closely with local authorities to improve public services, deliver local and national priorities, and to support local area growth, investment and regeneration.
The Scottish Government recognises the pressure local services are under and that local authorities and their employees play a crucial role in our communities. That is why the 2026-27 Scottish Budget provides a further real-terms increase in the Local Government Settlement, delivering record funding of £15.7 billion, including a quarter of a billion pounds of unrestricted General Revenue Grant and full flexibility on council tax. In 2026-27, Inverclyde Council will receive £239 million to fund local services which equates to an extra £11.9 million or an additional 5.3% compared to 2025-26.
While decisions on longer term financial plans are matters for individual local authorities, the Scottish Government will continue to work with COSLA and Local Government in the context of Best Value to improve outcomes for communities and strengthen the long-term sustainability of local services.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to improve public engagement with and participation in feedback and consultation exercises conducted by local authorities.
Answer
Local authorities are independent statutory bodies with their own powers and responsibilities and are separate from the Scottish Government. It is for individual councils to determine how they engage with their communities, including the design and delivery of local consultation and feedback exercises.
The Scottish Government supports effective community engagement through legislation, policy and guidance. The Democracy Matters: A Route Map to Reform was published in March 2026 and sets out proposals to strengthen public participation in local decision-making, improve accountability arrangements and ensure that more people in communities can influence the decisions that affect them most. The Scottish Government and COSLA will now consider how the Route Map can best be delivered in partnership with communities and the wider public sector.
The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 also promotes participation in local decision-making and provides communities with a range of rights and opportunities to engage with public bodies.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Accounts Commission report, Best Value: Inverclyde Council, which was published on 9 July 2026, what action it has taken to promote the adoption of digital and modernised administrative and service delivery strategies by local authorities.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of digital transformation in supporting efficient and sustainable local services. The Accounts Commission’s report highlights the benefits that can be achieved where councils take a strategic approach to digital modernisation and service redesign.
The Scottish Government support a range of sector-wide initiatives and in November 2025 the Scottish Government and Local Government published a joint strategic vision for digital in Scotland. The Sustainable Digital Public Services Delivery Plan was also published in 2025 and sets out the actions we will take to improve public services through greater use of digital technology, automation and service redesign. These programmes support councils to modernise administrative processes, improve customer experience and deliver better value for money.
While decisions on operational service delivery are matters for individual local authorities, the Scottish Government will continue to work with COSLA, the Digital Office and councils to support digital innovation and transformation that improves outcomes for communities and strengthens the long-term sustainability of local services.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 3 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish Mesothelioma Network's Annual Report 2024/25, which reported that 103 NHS Scotland staff are directly involved in mesothelioma services, what steps it is taking to increase workforce capacity within mesothelioma multi-disciplinary teams.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to support workforce capacity across cancer services, including mesothelioma care, through investment in the cancer workforce and expansion of key specialist roles. Over the last decade, the oncology and radiology consultant workforce has increased by more than 25%.
Health Boards remain responsible for ensuring they have the workforce required to deliver health care services that meets the needs of their local population.
- Asked by: Julie MacDougall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Audit Scotland's Local Government Budgets 2026/27 report, which stated that local authorities identified a combined budget gap of £528.6 million, what action it is taking, or plans to take, to support local authorities in addressing these budget gaps and preventing them from increasing in future years.
Answer
Local Authorities are legally required to set a balanced budget for each upcoming financial year and all 32 councils agreed balanced budgets for 2026-27, ahead of the statutory deadline of 11 March 2026.
The Scottish Government recognise the pressures facing Local Government and that is why the Local Government Settlement provided record funding of £15.7 billion for 2026-27, including a quarter of a billion pounds of unrestricted General Revenue Grant and full flexibility on council tax.
Decisions on future Local Government Settlements will be the subject of negotiations with COSLA on behalf of all 32 Local Authorities and announced as part of the outcome of future Scottish Budgets.
